Origin
Richmond, KY
Morning in Richmond on Friday
Local time
8:56 AM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Richmond, KY to Elkfork, KY
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 4m
Distance
95.7 mi
154 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$15
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 55m
★
6 AM
2h 4m
8 AM
2h 22m
10 AM
2h 10m
12 PM
2h 9m
3 PM
2h 11m
5 PM
2h 21m
8 PM
1h 59m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Richmond, KY
Wikimedia Commons
Elkfork, KY
Vietnam Hidden Light
Trip Overview
The drive from Richmond, KY to Elkfork, KY covers 95.7 miles and takes about 2h 4m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Mountain Parkway, Irvine Road, KY 172 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 39.9 miles on Mountain Parkway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $14.96 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
47.9 miles from Richmond, KY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 4m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 4m. Total distance: 95.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 4m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (67%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
This is a 2h 4m highway drive covering 95.7 miles, with most of the trip on Mountain Parkway and Irvine Road. The longest continuous stretch is about 39.9 miles on Mountain Parkway.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Mountain Parkway is the longest continuous segment at about 39.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Mountain Parkway and Irvine Road. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 25 Business; US 421 Business; KY 52 / West Main Street.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 4m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 25 Business; US 421 Business; KY 52 / West Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 17.3 miles (KY 499 / Joseph Proctor Memorial Bypass): Navigation decision point; at 18.8 miles (KY 89 / Winchester Road): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 25 Business; US 421 Business; KY 52 / West Main Street
Turn left onto US 25 Business; US 421 Business; KY 52 / West Main Street
Navigation decision point
4
17.3 mi into trip
|
~25m in
|
KY 499 / Joseph Proctor Memorial Bypass
Turn left onto KY 499 / Joseph Proctor Memorial Bypass
Navigation decision point
6
18.8 mi into trip
|
~28m in
|
KY 89 / Winchester Road
At end of road, turn left onto KY 89 / Winchester Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
30.9 mi into trip
|
~46m in
Take the ramp
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
71.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 29m in
Take the exit toward KY 205
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward KY 205
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Mountain Parkway | 39.9 mi | 42m |
| Irvine Road | 13 mi | 19m |
| KY 172 | 9.8 mi | 17m |
| KY 205 | 8.8 mi | 9m |
| Richmond Road | 5.8 mi | 8m |
| US 460 | 5.6 mi | 6m |
| Spout Springs Road | 5 mi | 7m |
| Winchester Road | 5 mi | 7m |
Longest stretch:
Mountain Parkway
— 39.9 mi, about 42m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Richmond, KY and Elkfork, KY.
1
Start on KY 388
104 ft
·
9 sec
·
North 2nd Street
2
Turn left onto US 25 Business; US 421 Business; KY 52
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
West Main Street
3
Turn left onto KY 52
11 mi
·
15 min
·
Irvine Road
4
Continue on KY 52
5.8 mi
·
8 min
·
Richmond Road
5
Turn left onto KY 499
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Joseph Proctor Memorial Bypass
6
At end of road, turn left onto KY 89
5.0 mi
·
7 min
·
Winchester Road
Use the left lane.
7
Turn right onto KY 82
5.0 mi
·
7 min
·
Spout Springs Road
8
Continue on Irvine Road
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Irvine Road
9
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Merge onto Mountain Parkway
40 mi
·
42 min
·
Mountain Parkway
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Toward KY 205
12
Keep slight left at fork
210 ft
·
11 sec
13
Turn left onto KY 205
8.8 mi
·
9 min
·
KY 205
14
Turn right onto US 460
4.7 mi
·
5 min
·
US 460
15
Continue on US 460; KY 7
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
US 460; KY 7
16
Turn left onto KY 172
9.8 mi
·
17 min
·
KY 172
17
Arrive at destination
KY 172
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 47.9 miles from Richmond, KY, or about 1h 4m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 39.9 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 21 miles or 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 47.9 miles or 1h 4m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 38m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Elkfork, KY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Richmond, KY so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Richmond, KY
This is one driving day of about 95.7 miles and 2h 4m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Richmond, KY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Mountain Parkway for about 39.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 47.9 mi from Richmond, KY · 1h 4m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
48 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 21 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 47.9 miles from Richmond, KY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Elkfork, KY
The final approach into Elkfork, KY usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Elkfork, KY.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.96 one way
$29.92 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
34 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $16.43 | $32.85 |
| premium | $4.89 | $18.42 | $36.83 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $21.13 | $42.26 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 33.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 28.7 | 0 | $10.05 | $4.59 |
| Efficient EV | 23.9 | 0 | $8.37 | $3.83 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 38.3 | 0 | $13.40 | $6.12 |
Gas CO2
33 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Elkfork, KY
Morning in Elkfork on Friday
Local time
8:56 AM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
52°F
Stanton, KY
48 mi in
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
1 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 4m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Richmond, KY to Elkfork, KY covers 95.7 miles and takes about 2h 4m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Mountain Parkway, Irvine Road, KY 172. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 47.9 miles from Richmond, KY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $14.96 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a straightforward 2h 4m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 25 Business; US 421 Business; KY 52 / West Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 17.3 miles (KY 499 / Joseph Proctor Memorial Bypass): Navigation decision point; at 18.8 miles (KY 89 / Winchester Road): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Richmond, KY to Elkfork, KY does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from OSRM over OpenStreetMap. Fuel cost uses EIA weekly regional averages. Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our methodology page documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
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